Glove waiver withdrawn for Garcia-Benn welterweight title fight

A request to allow 8-ounce gloves if Conor Benn misses the welterweight limit for his fight against Ryan Garcia has been withdrawn, standardizing the glove rule for their Saturday bout at T-Mobile Arena in Las Vegas. The withdrawal means that if either fighter weighs more than 147 pounds at Friday's official weigh-in, the bout will be contested with the more padded 10-ounce gloves. The request had been made by Garcia's camp and was publicly supported by the champion. Garcia stated he wanted to ensure he could use his preferred 8-ounce gloves even if Benn came in overweight, viewing it as a contingency plan. The Nevada State Athletic Commission had been set to rule on the matter. The change removes a potential loophole Garcia sought to exploit. He had expressed a desire to face a potentially weakened Benn in the smaller gloves, even if Benn failed to make weight. The withdrawal of the waiver means Benn now has less incentive to accept the consequences of a weight miss and fight in the smaller gloves anyway. The glove rule now provides a clear distinction: make 147 pounds and wear 8-ounce gloves, or miss the limit and box in 10-ounce gloves.